Thousands Turn Out To Protest President Trump in New York

Donald Trump, who spent most of Monday attempting to disentangle himself from the warm embrace of the neo-Nazis and white supremacists who instigated a domestic terror attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend, returned to New York on Monday night for only the second time since becoming president. A lifelong New Yorker, Trump may claim the city as his own, but his reception wasn’t exactly that of a conquering hero. Thousands of protesters spent the hours before the president’s arrival pouring onto the streets surrounding Trump Tower with signs that spelled out exactly how they felt (“This Is for Heather Heyer,” “Donald the Führer,” “Not My President,” “Make Racists Afraid Again,” “Punch Nazis”) accompanied by reverberating chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” “No Trump! No KKK! No Fascist USA!” and what became an undeniable crowd favorite: “New York Hates You!” A giant inflatable rat in the style favored by labor unions, created by the BravinLee gallery and designed by artist Jeffrey Beebe, had been modeled after the 45th president, right down to the pinching and pointing hand gestures and overly long red tie. (The Russian flag lapel pin was creative license.)